Blended learning can be defined as a combination of learning in a face to face environment along with learning using online tools and environment. As technology becomes more and more ubiquitous, blended learning in my mind seems to stress upon ‘anytime, anywhere’ from a wider perspective for twenty first century learners. Perhaps blended learning is an approach that can help educators and learners to probe into the depths of a concept, making individualized learning even more meaningful, interconnected and relevant. Learning today is no longer restricted to the four walls of a traditional classroom or other physical limitations. In my view, blended learning compels an optimal utilization of online resources in hand for promoting opportunities of active engagement.
Within this context, I believe effective time management is one the challenges of blended learning. From a K-12 perspective it is important for learners to use technology for learning but also to be cognizant of the importance of the delicate balance between virtual and real worlds as they seem to be overlapping to a large extend in our daily lives. I believe probing into the same would help to understand the future of blended learning. This may also help to apply a blended learning approach in schools better, especially at the elementary level where digital natives may appear to utilize technology and understand it with apparent ease!
